"Oh-My-God-What-Is-That?" Skin Emergencies

Should you dig at it? Or rush to a derm? See photos and skin care tips for sensitive skin issues

Skin Emergency: Athlete's FootSymptoms: Dry, cracked, flaking skin or raw, blistered, swollen skin between toes and/or around the sides and bottom of feet. These are signs of a skin infection caused by fungus or yeast. The condition worsens in warm, humid environments.Treat it: Clean your feet with normal bar soap and dry thoroughly. Apply an anti-fungal powder, (such as Zeasorb-AF, $7.99) to further dry the sweaty area. Then, slather feet with an over-the-counter topical antifungal ointment, (like Tinactin Antifungal Cream, $11.99). For more severe athlete's foot, oral antifungal medications can be prescribed by your doctor.Prevent it: Wear water shoes or flip-flops around pools, in locker rooms and in any other warm, wet public locale where bacteria lurk. Never wear sweaty socks for long periods of time, and clean and dry feet thoroughly after exercising.